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Lee Schreiner Sheet Music Collection

Lee Schreiner donated a large portion of his sheet music collection--several thousand pieces--to Rare Books and Special Collections in 2014. Music in the collection covers much of the early 20th century, with coverage especially strong during World War I (1914-1918). Because most Americans either had access to pianos or watched performers at music halls, sheet music is an ideal medium for studying popular and visual culture. Pieces in the collection reflect popular opinion about the war, as well as the changing status of women and minorities. The first phase to digitize the Schreiner collection concluded in 2017 to coincide with the centennial of World War I, with future plans to digitize more of the collection later in the year.

Browse by first line of chorus | first line of lyrics | cover illustration

America prepare
lyric by Elizabeth Herbert Childs ; music by Ribé Danmark., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Camped along the shore a soldier blows his bugle. Off shore are two ships and one airplane flying over head. The number "5" appears in the lower center cover. The initials LPN in lower right cover., You've seen our soldiers drill on their parade grounds., Let ev'-ry man know how to fight in battle., Publisher's advertisement on back cover: "Welcome honey to your old plantation home" with facsimile of sheet cover and excerpt of music., Staff notation.
Hands off the U.S.A.
words by George Garrett ; music by Ralph Keefer., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Cover is split into three horizontal panels, one red, one white, one blue. The top panel has an eagle. The bottom panel has a canon in the middle of it with soldiers standing at attention on each side of the canon. The soldiers are each holding up a sword / E.O. Hurst., We have heard alot about invading hosts., Oh say can you see., Staff notation.
Good luck to Johnny Canuck
words by Gertrude C. Knight ; music by Allan Hare., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Soldier standing at attention., Oh Johnny Canuck its your luck., Oh Johnny what luck Johnny., NIU copy: Sheet with the printed music is smaller than the folded cover sheet. May not be the original., Staff notation.
Prepare the eagle to protect the dove
words by Harry T. Bunce ; music by Will Donaldson., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., "Dedicated with pride to the little patriot--Marjorie Sterrett"--Page 2., Eagle and a dove overlooking the ocean, with inset photograph of George Wilton Ballard. A long shield with the stars and stripes stands behind the eagle., America, America, you are the queen of earth., Prepare the eagle to protect the dove, is the battle cry of peace., "Sung by George Wilton Ballard, phonograph artist"--Cover., NIU copy., Staff notation.
The call of a nation
composed by Fred E. Ahlert and Pete Wendling., piano, Title from cover., For piano., Columbia blowing a long necked trumpet standing on a globe with a regiment of soldiers rushing forward into battle in the background. Photo of the Saxo-Sextette set into the illustration / Al Barbelle., Staff notation.
Battle of the Marne
by J. Luxton., piano, Caption title., For piano., A scene picturing trench warfare with a biplane and an airship in the sky. Soldiers are rushing the trenches. The border of the cover is made up of a helmet and swords with various national flags / Al. Barbelle., Publisher's advertisement on verso of p. 5 has incipits of sixteen piano pieces: By the sea : reverie / Leander Fisher. Rose waltz : standard / W.C. Powell. Little soldier march : school march / W.C. Powell. Twilight shadows : reverie / Jerome Heller. Love's whispering : waltzes / L. Gould. Twinkling stars : three-step / Jerome Heller. Reflections : reverie / Jerome Heller. Beautiful tho'ts of love / Jerome Heller. Greyhound march / John Parker. Con amore : valse hesitation / W.C. Powell. Vision waltz : reverie-waltz / J. Holfman. Rippling waters : caprice / Wm. T. Pierson. Battle in the sky : march / J. Luxton. Valse Estelle / E. Goldston. Evening prayer : reverie / L. Gould. Twittering birds : reverie / John J. Fitzpatrick., Soldiers' prayer before the siege -- The sound of distant guns -- The call to arms -- Cavalry call -- Gunners rush to their posts -- Army corps approaching in the distance -- Gradually getting in line -- Infantry marching in perfect order -- Field guns -- Rain of shrapnel -- Machine guns -- Groans of the dying -- Battle rages with terrible fierceness., Includes a verse from the poem: A ballad of Sarsfield / by Aubrey Thomas De Vere., Staff notation.
Be prepared
by Belle Schrag., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., "Dedicated to Pres. Wilson"--Cover., View from a battlement with canons out onto a harbor with battlesheeps. The scene is framed by American flag curtains., To arms! to arms! the call might come someday., Be prepared! be prepared! for peace war might be declared., Staff notation., Publisher's advertisement on verso of page 3 includes musical incipits from 4 pieces: Serenade / by Lota A. Feltus and John Northern Hillard. Kiss me good-bye (daisy do) / by Belle Schrag. That story of beautiful love / by Chas. L. Johnson and Harry Reynolds. Life is a beautiful dream / by Everett J. Evans and Harry Reynolds.
British boys
words and music by A. G. E. Lowman ; arr. by W. M. Miles., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., "Dedicated to patriotic purposes.", Large oval with a photograph of trench warfare, soldiers firing at the enemy, explosions, a wounded soldier leaning on a fellow soldier. Oval is framed by rifles with bayonets, hats, swords and canon shells., They came from the plains and the highlands., Our soldier ladies in khaki., Staff notation.
Dixie-doodle
lyrics by Raymond Zirkel ; music by Earl McCullough., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Lady Liberty is wearing a patriotic dress sitting on a marble throne. She is holding out her hand to greet a man walking toward her with a cane tipping his hat to her. A bald eagle is holding an arrow with a flag in its claws flying towards her. Illustration is printed in blue and white., Have you ever whispered "Thankee.", Dixie Doodle, you're the land for me., Raymond L. Zirkel, Jr. worked for the Al. G. Field Minstrels and was active with the Alladin Shrine in Columbus, Ohio and wrote for the annual Shrine Revues. He collaborated with Carl E. Summers., Staff notation.
"Lieb Vaterland"
Title from caption on page 3., Zeichnungen von L.C. Chaponot ; Gravierungen von California Photo Eng. Co. ; Vollbild von D. Blakiston., piano, voice, A collection of texts and music., In German., Staff notation.
The emblem of liberty
W. H. Haycraft, composer., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Inset photo of the composer in a shield of blue and white stripes set against a background of red and white stripes. The inset photo is framed by the words "1917 Hits.", A little boy said grandpa., Stars and stripes is sure a good name., Staff notation.
Don't forget the folks at home
music and words by Lu Ring., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Army tents with a flag framed by a silhouette with a soldier standing with his rifle on one side and a woman standing reading a letter on the other side. A circle in the middle shows a large house with trees and a stone fence and an American flag above it., Banners waving troops are on parade, The camp is all aglow with the smiles of man and maid., Don't forget the folks at home, Don't forget the days gone by, Remember the hearts that are acheing today, Thinking of you 'tho far away., Staff notation.
The boys we love
words by Sgt. W. E. Turley, First Canadian Division ; music by Edgar W. Ruff., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., "Dedicated to Private Jack Canuck - God bless him.", Soldiers engaged in trench warfare with guns with bayonets., Soldier boys you know., Canada Canada we are all for you., Staff notation.
Gee, but it's great to be a soldier
by Geo. B. Mann., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Smiling soldier enveloped in the American flag saluting with a military camp behind him., We are soldier boys., Gee but it's great to be a soldier., Staff notation.
Good-bye, good luck, God bless you
words by J. Keirn Brennan ; music by Ernest R. Ball., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Young man and woman saying goodbye on the doorstep of a house. The man is dressed in a short jacket and breeches. The woman is wearing a long dress and holds a basket with flowers that she is picking from a tall flowering bush., It's hard to part when heart to heart., Good-bye, good luck, God bless you., Staff notation.
Fall in - for your motherland
words by President Woodrow Wilson ; music by Dr. Frank Black and John Golden., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Photo of Woodrow Wilson., America, you're cried awake by voices of the night., Fall into line for your motherland., Words chosen from Woodrow Wilson's speeches., "As sung in the all-soldier show 'The Army Play by Play' produced by John Golden and the Second Service Command"--Cover., Staff notation.
When the [eagle] screams
by Joseph T. Pope N.S.L., piano, voice, Title from cover., On title page "[eagle]" appears as an illustration of an American bald eagle., For voice and piano., "Dedicated to the National Security League"--Cover., "If we wish to avoid the horrors of war we must prepare a proper strong defense."--Cover., Bald eagle resting one foot on a shield of stars and stripes and the other on a globe., When you hear some old Jingo shouting., So just keep cool and steady., Staff notation.
Home sweet home for you we're fighting
words by Captain Joe Lawson ; music by Gordon V. Thompson., piano, voice, "Captain Joe Lawson's great recruiting song"--Cover., Title from cover., March for voice and piano., "The Canadian Marching Song"--Cover., Photograph of Joe Lawson holding British flag. Photograph of Lieut. John Slatter, band master., In the battle trench we stand far away from our dear land., Home, Sweet Home! for you we're fighting! Cheer up! lads., Staff notation.
Battery A
Bert Lowe., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., Battery of soldiers with a canon fighting on the front with biplanes flying overhead / V.C. Plunkett., Staff notation.
America answers the call
written and composed by Clay Smith, R.P. Weston & Bert Lee., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., "Sung by Miss Lee White in Andre Charlot's vaudeville theatre success 'Cheep' written by Harry Grattan.", Two decorative panels containing pastoral scenes form a t-square. At the intersection is an inset photo of Miss Lee White signed "photo by Malcolm Arbuthnot.", America answers the call, Our songs will do or die, NIU copy., Staff notation.
Ev'ry Sammy needs his smokin' over there
lyric by Richard Pasco ; music by Monte Carlo & Alma Sanders., piano, voice, Title from cover., Marches for voice and piano., Shield containing a large image of a soldier wearing a hat smoking a cigarette. In the background is a silhouette of a scene with soldiers fighting on a front line. Inset photo of Eddie McGrath with caption "Introduced by Eddie McGrath.", I have just received a letter., So let us all go and buy tobacco., "Dedicated to the U.S. Soldiers Tobacco Fund.", "Cover design by Lew W. Tower.", NIU copy., Staff notation.
Every girl is knitting
featured and written by Hawley & Bellaire in Supreme Vaudeville., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Photo of a young woman in wide-brimmed hat wearing pearls and holding a bouqet of roses. The photo is signed "Celebrity, Chicago." Two balls of unwound yarn and knitting needles with a work in progress frame the photo., It's dandy just to see the soldier heroes march away., So every girl is knitting for some mother's son in France., NIU copy., Staff notation.
Be a good scout
lyric by Stanley Murphy ; music by Harry Carroll., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Photo of a troop of scouts marching against a yellow and white background / Starmer., First line of lyric: Little bright eyed laddie said to his dear old daddy, Be a good scout, throw your chest out, NIU copy., Staff notation.
Can't you hear old Uncle Sammy calling?
words and music by Chas. Feist, Jr., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Uncle Sam in an oval frame. On either side of the frame, a soldier and sailor are blowing their bugles. The illustration is printed in red, white and blue colors., First line of text: Now that this nation's imperiled., Can't you hear old Uncle Sammy calling., Publisher's advertisement on p.[4]: "Adelaide waltzes.", NIU copy., Staff notation.
And then she'd knit, knit, knit
lyric by Ed. Moran ; music by Harry Von Tilzer., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Photograph of a young woman within a border, seated in a whicker arm hair knitting; a basket of yarn and dog is near her feet, while trees (colored with red leaves) surround her; threads drawn from the knitting activity lead to the outside of the border where, in the lower left corner, several men hold on to the string and gaze at her admiringly / E.H. Pfeiffer. Thumbnail photograph of Harry Von Tilzer on cover near center at bottom., Pretty little Kitty's got the patriotic craze knitting scarfs for soldiers day and night, He'd take a hug then he'd hug her some more while she'd knit knit knit knit knit, NIU copy., Staff notation.